20 Detroit-area plant-centric restaurants that we love

By Metro Times editorial staff on Thu, May 16, 2024 at 2:41 pm

Eating less meat can help cool the planet down and helping to save the environment can be delicious, too. When we’re craving vegan and vegetarian, these are some of the local spots we go to.

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Instagram, @cacaotreecafe

Cacao Tree Cafe

204 W. 4th St., Royal Oak; 248-336-9043; cacaotreecafe.com

This Royal Oak face is known for its vegan dishes, including salads, power bowls, soups, and wraps and sandwiches.

Instagram, @detvegansoul

Detroit Vegan Soul

19614 Grand River Ave., Detroit: 313-766-5728; detroitvegansoul.com

While Detroit's all-vegan soul food restaurant closed its original West Village location, business is carrying on at its North Rosedale Park outpost. Favorites include vegan mac-n-cheese, the DVS burger, and a red velvet cake.

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Instagram, @publichouse_ferndale

Public House

241 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale; 248-733-4905; publichouseferndale.com

This gastropub formerly owned and operated by the folks behind Ferndale's Imperial taco spot reopened under new management, along with a second kitchen to accommodate an additional vegan-centric menu revamped by chef Megan Shaw (of Street Beet fame). Highlights include a vegan burger made of a house-made blend of barley, carrots, beets, and potatoes served with vegan American cheese, vegan dijonnaise, and an option to add house-made tempeh bacon.

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Chive Kitchen

33043 Grand River Ave., Farmington; 3148-7144; chivekitchen.com

This hip downtown Farmington spot offers hits like grilled Chicken Marsala (with panko-crusted grilled chicken seitan) and a jalapeño burger, and even launched a vegan wine club.

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Instagram, @sevadetroit

Seva

2541 Jackson Ave., Ann Arbor; 734-662-1111 | 66 E. Forest Ave., Detroit; 313-974-6661 | sevarestaurant.com

This long-standing vegan favorite has two locations (it has operated in Ann Arbor for more than 40 years, and opened a Midtown spot in 2011), boasting a completely vegetarian menu, along with a full bar, fresh juice bar, and coffee bar.

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The Kitchen by Cooking with Que

6529 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-462-4184; thekitchenbycwq.com

Quiana “Que” Broden opened Cooking with Que with a goal "to teach people to eat to live; by introducing more plant based meals into everyday living." Not only does Que serve up vegan meals, but it also offers cooking classes and other educational opportunities.

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Instagram, @7greenssalads

7 Greens

1222 Library St., Detroit; 313-964-9005; 7greens.com

Known for its salads, this chain also serves a wide selection of wraps, bowls, burritos, and more.

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Instagram, @trapvegandet

Trap Vegan

20198 Livernois Ave., Detroit; 313-340-2988; trapvegan.com

Being vegan doesn't have to mean giving up fast food entirely, and that's where Trap Vegan comes in. Located just on the end of Detroit's Avenue of Fashion, Trap Vegan's menu features plant-based burgers loaded with toppings like vegan cheese, fried onion rings, and BBQ sauce. They also offer salads and smoothies that are a bit healthier.

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Cybelle Codish

AlTayeb

873 Inkster Rd., Garden City; 734-237-4606; altayebrestaurant.com

Most Middle Eastern spots have plenty of vegan options, but AlTayeb, distinguished for its Lebanese-style brunch offerings, is on another level.

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Tom Perkins

Spacecat V-stro

255 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale; 248-268-3211; spacecatvstro.com

Opened in 2020, Spacecat V-stro offers vegetarian comfort food, focused on breakfast and lunch made from scratch (so no Beyond or Impossible meat substitutes here). Most items can be made vegan.

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Instagram, @coldtruthsoftserve

Cold Truth

4240 Cass Ave., Suite 100, Detroit; 313-680-1199; coldtruthsoftserve.com

This hip, sweet spot offers a number of vegan desserts, including vegan ice cream served in hand-made gluten-free waffle cones, a vegan pumpkin ice cream pie, and a vegan Mexican cocoa ice cream pie.

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Instagram, @aratham_meals

Aratham Gourmet To Go

719 Griswold St., Detroit; 586-871-0917; aratham.com

After opening stores in the suburbs in Troy and Westland, this plant-based grab-and-go chain opened a third location in downtown Detroit. The rotating menu includes items like a lobster po' boy, tandoori cauliflower sandwich, breakfast bowls, and vegan meatloaf, all made in-house.

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Instagram, @unburgergrill

Unburger Grill

22018 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; 313-633-0881; unburgergrill.com

Vegan chicken and waffles sandwich? Check. Shiitake "bacon?" Check. Meatless burgers? Say no more. This place even sells its house-made patties so you can make your own Unburger at home.

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Lager House

1254 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-961-4668; pjslagerhouse.com

Aside from live music, this Corktown bar is also known for its vegan-heavy menu, which includes vegan biscuits and gravy and a vegan tempeh po' boy.

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Instagram, @soup_dive

Soup Dive

26051 W. 12 Mile Rd., Southfield; 248-262-7300; soupdive.com

Soup Dive is a solid lunch spot for soup, sandwiches, and salad. The menu isn't entirely vegan but they have several options like black-eyed peas and kale soup (highly recommended) and an Impossible burger wrap.

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Pillar and Pride

1004 W. Seven Mile Rd., Detroit; 313-733-6468; pillarandpride.com

No, Pillar and Pride is not actually a restaurant — it's a Black-owned health and wellness shop on Detroit's west side. However, they do sell vegan to-go meals prepared by local chefs like Mag Creates, known for her plant-based sushi and vegan lasagna. The shop also regularly hosts vegan pop-up chef Sisters on a Roll.

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Instagram, @sprouthousemarket

Sprout House

15233 Kercheval Ave., Grosse Pointe Park; 313-331-3200; sprouthousenaturalmarket.com

For more than a decade, this family-owned market has operated out of Grosse Pointe's Cabbage Patch area. It boasts sandwiches, organic produce, house-made soups, and vegan and vegetarian desserts.

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Randiah Camille Green

Freya

2929 E. Grand Blvd., Detroit; 313-351-5544; freyadetroit.com

Fortunately, Freya, one of Detroit's most acclaimed fine dining restaurants, doesn't leave out our plant-based buds. It offers a prix fixe five-course vegan menu, in addition to its omnivore and pescatarian options.

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Instagram, @piescipizza

Pie Sci Pizza

5163 Trumbull St., Detroit; 313-818-0290 | 8150 W. 9 Mile Rd., Oak Park; 313-818-0290 piescipizza.com

The inventive chefs at Pie Sci make some of the best vegetarian and vegan pizzas we've tried in metro Detroit.

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Instagram, @planthropie

Planthropie

135 Pierce St., Birmingham; 248-839-5640; planthropie.com

Inspired by the founder’s son, who has a dairy allergy, Planthropie serves up sweet 100% plant-based treats.

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